'Argo,' 'Jaws,' 'The Terminal,' and more movies you won't believe were based on true stories

Caption'Argo' -- and other true stories

Warner Bros.

It's no secret that Hollywood loves a true story -- form biopics to historical dramas, these movies dominate awards and rule the box office. But sometimes a movie's inspiration is stranger than your standard biopic. Take "Argo": Yes, the CIA really did smuggle six U.S. embassy workers out of Iran by disguising them as a Canadian film crew working on a "Star Wars" knock-off. And "Argo" isn't alone. Check out these other surprising films that were inspired by real-life events. Some of them stick closer to the facts than others, but they all have a kernel of truth at their core.

It's no secret that Hollywood loves a true story -- form biopics to historical dramas, these movies dominate awards and rule the box office. But sometimes a movie's inspiration is stranger than your standard biopic. Take "Argo": Yes, the CIA really did smuggle six U.S. embassy workers out of Iran by disguising them as a Canadian film crew working on a "Star Wars" knock-off. And "Argo" isn't alone. Check out these other surprising films that were inspired by real-life events. Some of them stick closer to the facts than others, but they all have a kernel of truth at their core. (Warner Bros.)

The creepy tale of the life and death of identical twin gynecologists Elliot and Beverly Mantle was inspired by the creepy deaths of Stewart and Cyril Marcus, identical twin gynecologists in New York. Their emaciated bodies were found in their apartment in 1975 -- they had each died of barbiturate withdrawal. Thankfully, the part about seriously disturbing gynecological instruments came from David Cronenberg's fevered imagination, not reality.

The creepy tale of the life and death of identical twin gynecologists Elliot and Beverly Mantle was inspired by the creepy deaths of Stewart and Cyril Marcus, identical twin gynecologists in New York. Their emaciated bodies were found in their apartment in 1975 -- they had each died of barbiturate withdrawal. Thankfully, the part about seriously disturbing gynecological instruments came from David Cronenberg's fevered imagination, not reality. (Warner Bros.)